SENIOR CLASSES.
For Children from Ten Years old to Twelve: Fourth Standard and upwards.
Most children are advanced enough at this age to prefer what is a little out of their own field; though here there will always be the differing tastes for adventure or character, and imaginative or matter-of-fact literature. What will fall flat with some will be appreciated by others; and, in general, what has been read to them is best liked. Explanations can be given, right intonations are explanatory in themselves, and foreign or unusual names are better understood.
64. Under the Lilacs. By Louisa Alcott. (Sampson Low) 2s.
A stray boy and poodle, escaped from a circus, arrive in the middle of a doll’s feast held by a widow’s little girls. The house becomes their home, and the scenes are delightful, especially when the poor dog is lost and comes back minus his tail.
65. On Angels’ Wings. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Nelson) 5s.
Pathetic and tender. A deformed and sickly child in a German town has to part with her father on his summons to the war. Little Violet’s patience, the drolleries of her little friends, the kindness of the old policeman, and the thoughtlessness of her young nurse go to children’s hearts.
66. The Abbey by the Sea. By Mrs. Molesworth. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
A furniture designer of evidently much cultivation with his little daughter by the sea-side. Perhaps too ideal, but refining.
67. The Golden Thread. By Dr. Norman McLeod. (Isbister) 2s. 6d.
This will also be found among the allegories, but it is, even as a mere story or romance, so charming to young listeners that it is here introduced.
68. Feats on the Fiord. By Harriet Martineau. (Routledge) 1s. and 1s. 6d. (With 40 illustrations, 2s.)
Too lively and amusing to be out of date. Norwegian life is made perhaps rather too rose-coloured, but the adventures have a merit and interest apart from actual truth to nature.
69. The Ghost of Greythorn Manor. (Nelson) 6s.
May be useful where children or servants fear a haunted house.
70. Little Rosa. By Mrs. Prentice. (Nelson) 6d.
Fittest for the poor children to whom Father is a word of fear.
71. The Magpie’s Nest. (Nelson) 6d.
72. The Children on the Plains. (Nelson) 1s. 6d.
Adventures on the Prairies with Red Indians; a good deal of religious talk.
73. Daughter of the Regiment. (Sunday School Union) 2s.
Children captured by Red Indians.
74. Leila, or the Island. By M. Fraser Tytler. (Hatchards) 3s. 6d.
Leila has always been an unfailing favourite. The second and third parts of her story are unequal to the first volume, which is improbable enough, but such pretty and pleasant reading, and so sound-hearted, that it is quite a child’s classic.
75. Mr. Burke’s Nieces. (Cassell) 2s.
Confusion of identity between two children brought home from India, one of whom the Irish barrister believes to be his niece. It turns upon jealousy.
76. Little Hinges. (Cassell) 2s. 6d.
A child’s disobedience in apparently a small matter leads to great family misfortunes. A sound lesson against ‘doing right in our own eyes.’
77. The Thorn Fortress. By M. Bramston. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
This will be classed among historical tales, as it belongs to the period of the Thirty Years’ War, but the interest is sufficient to win children quite ignorant of the history of the period. The inhabitants of a village in the track of the armies have a refuge in the forest, impregnably fenced with thorn bushes. The adventures of a little maiden, who falls into the hands of the marauders, and wins their heart by her innocent sweetness, are enjoyed by all readers and hearers.
78. Max Krömer. By Hesba Stretton. (R.T.S.) 1s. 6d.
The Siege of Strasburg from a child’s point of view.
79. Lost in Egypt. By Miss M. L. Whately. (R.T.S.) 4s.
The adventures of the little daughter of an English engineer, suddenly left an orphan in a remote place, and abandoned by the servants. She is adopted by a peasant woman, and afterwards has experience of several Egyptian houses before she is recovered by her English grandmother. Here and there it is lengthy, and some conversations might be spared, but it has been listened to and read with great interest.
80. The Blue Ribbons. By Anna Harriet Drury. (Kerby) 3s. 6d.
Founded on the anecdote of Marie Antoinette acting fairy to the child she met in the wood.
81. Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates. By Mary M. Dodge. (Sampson Low) 1s.
Delightful scenes of Dutch winter life.
82. The Oak Staircase. By M. and C. Lee. (Griffith, Farran, & Co.) 3s. 6d.
This is the best for reading aloud of the three historical tales by these ladies. It begins with a child wedding in the days of Charles II. The little bride (a Countess) is sent to school at Taunton, where the mistress, a Huguenot, is enthusiastic in Monmouth’s cause, and the poor girls are among ‘the maids of Taunton.’ The young husband intercedes, but goes into banishment with the Jacobites, and his wife has in after times to procure his pardon, after which they begin their married life. The book has been found very attractive to children.
83. The White Chapel. By Esmé Stuart. (S.P.C.K.) 2s.
A dreamy child’s adventure, very prettily told, connecting the little white curtained bed with the white chantry chapel in a cathedral.
84. The Carved Cartoon. By Austin Clare. (S.P.C.K.) 4s.
This has been much enjoyed when read aloud to somewhat intelligent Sunday-school children in the country, and Londoners always like it. The title is unfortunate, for a cartoon cannot be carved, and what is meant is a copy of a cartoon made by Grinling Gibbons, whose adventures in the Plague and Fire of London are made very interesting.
85. Ivo and Verena. (Masters) 2s.
A beautiful little Fouqué-like tale of early Christianity in the North.
86. Peggy and other Tales. By Florence Montgomery. (Cassell) 2s.
This may be useful where temperance tales are required, though we rather wonder at the father who chose such a subject to amuse his little children.
87. The Ambition of Kate Hicks. (S.P.C.K.) 4d.
Useful for girls going out to service.
88. The Grey House on the Hill. By the Hon. Mrs. Greene. (Nelson) 2s. 6d.
A lonely page-boy falsely accused.
89. I must keep the Chimes going. By Miss Elliot. (Seeley) 1s. 6d.
A very beautiful story of a girl in a hard place, but with a cheerful spirit.
90. Friarswood Post Office. By C. M. Yonge. (Walter Smith) 2s. 6d.
A history of a workhouse lad, founded on fact.
91. The Pink Silk Handkerchief. (Walter Smith) 2d.
A useful tale of deceit and vanity.
92. The Girls of Flaxby. By C. R. Coleridge. (Walter Smith) 2s.
Pupil-teachers shown in a manner useful to them and still more so to those who have to deal with them.
93. Lads and Lasses of Langley. By C. M. Yonge. 2s. (See [No. 28].)
Stories of village life, chiefly for the elder children; curiosity and a few other follies shown up.
94. Polly Spanker’s Green Feather. By Mrs. Walford. (S.P.C.K.) 4d.
Droll disaster with finery.
95. Sowing and Sewing. By C. M. Yonge. (W. Smith) 1s. 6d.
An endeavour practically to illustrate the Parable of the Sower.
96. Stories of Youth and Childhood. (Walter Smith) 2s.
These first appeared in the ‘Magazine for the Young,’ and are very good. Phœbe, who is sent to the hospital, is our special favourite.
97. Copsley Annals. By Miss Elliot. (Seeley) 1s. 6d.
These are unusually interesting. The supposed ghost, which turns out to be a clock whirring, excites breathless interest. The last story is better fitted for mothers than children.
98. The House of the Little Wizard. (Hatchards) 3s. 6d.
99. Goldhanger Woods. By M. and C. Lee. (National Society) 2s.
This calls itself a child’s romance, and has some exciting adventures.
100. My Great Aunt’s Cat. (S.P.C.K.) 2d.
A droll and wholesome warning against false excuses.
101. Uncle Ivan. By M. Bramston. (National Society) 2s. 6d.
Two sisters have to guard the papers of their uncle, a political exile, against spies. Very amusing for rather advanced readers such as pupil teachers.
102. Wild Thyme. (S.P.C.K.) 4d.
103. Susan Pascoe’s Temptation. (S.P.C.K.) 4d.
The first of these is very touching, the second its continuation and a good lesson.
104. Self Conquest. By Florence Wilford. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
Another rescue from a circus.
105. Marty and the Mite Boxes. (Shaw) 3s. 6d.
An American story of contributions to a church, and the exertions of a rough little set of choir boys.
106. Little Jeanneton’s Work. By C. A. Jones. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & Co.) 3s. 6d.
A little shepherdess whom the young lady of the château nearly spoils by making her Arcadian. Very prettily illustrated.
107. A Peep behind the Scenes. By Mrs. Walton. (R.T.S.) 3s. 6d.
A great favourite.
108. Nimpo’s Troubles. (Griffith, Farran, & Co.) 3s. 6d.
This is an American story of a self-willed child, which children like very much. She chooses during her mother’s absence from home to board with people of her own selection, and gets into very comical predicaments.
109. A Little Step-daughter. By the Author of the ‘Atelier du Lys.’ (National Society) 3s. 6d.
A child stolen by smugglers in the wild districts of Southern France in the time of Louis XV., taken care of by a woman who feeds silk-worms. Very interesting.
110. Alone in Crowds. By Annette Lyster. (S.P.C.K.) 3s.
A youth bred up by his father on a desert island from early infancy. When rescued and brought home he is utterly astray and perplexed in England.
111. The Giant Killer. By A.L.O.E. (Nelson) 3s.
This is rather stilted, but has been much enjoyed by elder children. It is much better than the second part ‘The Roby Family.’ As a rule, this lady’s books are very religious, without Church teaching, and a little too stiff in language, but useful.
112. Bear and Forbear. (Cassell) 2s.
An excellent tale of an Edinburgh newspaper boy.
113. Rhoda’s Reward. By Mrs. Marshall. (Cassell) 1s.
A young girl who overcomes a strong temptation.
114. For Half-a-Crown. By Esmé Stuart. (National Society) 3s.
This is the price of a poor Italian baby bought out of the slums of Portsmouth, and bred up to be a very spirited and interesting little person.
115. Three Stories for Working Girls. (S.P.C.K.) 1s.
This, like ‘Kate Temple’s Mate,’ is chiefly fitted for the rough girls of factories.
